Traveling During Spring Break?
We are pleased to provide this special Spring Break travel information to BU international students. Spring break begins Friday, March 21, 2008. Classes resume on Monday, March 31, 2008. There will be a second, shorter Spring recess beginning after 1:00pm on Friday, April 18, 2008. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.
Many of our students will be traveling within the United States, others may have the opportunity to travel abroad. Whatever your destination, please read the following information, which has been updated to include the latest SEVIS and federal immigration requirements.
For a more detailed discussion of travel requirements, visit the Fall 2007 Travel Extra that was originally published in November 2007:
http://isss.binghamton.edu/travel/TravelExtra.htm
Our most significant concern for international students traveling during these brief breaks are those who will need to renew their F-1 or J-1 visa abroad. Such students will not have sufficient time to obtain a new visa during such a short period and should limit their travel to staying within the United States, Canada or Mexico, or the adjacent islands. Only those students with unexpired visas should travel to other countries.
Travel Within the United States
If you are planning a trip during the Spring breaks to destinations within the United States by car, bus, train or airplane, to U.S. cities near or far, it is essential that you have your passport, I-94, and SEVIS I-20 (or DS-2019 if you are a J-1 student) with you. There is heightened security not only at all border crossings, but also at bus terminals, train terminals, and airports throughout the United States. Police from multiple agencies; federal, state and municipal, patrol these areas. People may be stopped and questioned randomly.
Therefore, you are urged to be sure to have your passport, visa documents (I-94 card and SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019), and BU student ID card with you for ALL distance travel, even travel within New York State. In addition, be sure that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 (or page 1 of your SEVIS DS-2019) has an authorizing signature no older than May 2007. If you are applying for a change of non-immigrant status, visa petition or EAD card, be sure to carry your receipt notice as well, which proves that you have an application pending with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Processing Center.
Before You Leave the United States
US-VISIT Exit Procedure: Effective May 6, 2007, international travelers are no longer required to check out at a US-VISIT exit kiosk. All other exit procedures remain the same. You must still return Form I-94 (Arrival Departure Record) to an airline or ship representative when departing the United States. Individuals who were subject to “Special Registration” or NSEERS upon arrival must still go through the required departure process before leaving the United States (see below).
"Special Registration (NSEERS)": Any student, scholar or spouse who was subject to "Special Registration" either at a U.S. port of entry or during the "call-in" registrations that required a trip to a USCIS (formerly INS) office must go through the special "exit procedure" at any U.S. landport, airport or seaport before departing the United States, even if the travel is only to Canada. Although certain aspects of "special registration" have been suspended, the exit procedure remains in effect. This includes individuals, regardless of gender, from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Sudan, as well as males between the ages of 16 and 45 who were born in or are citizens of: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Failure to go through the exit procedure can result in being barred from returning to the United States.
Travel to Canada or Mexico
For travel to Canada or Mexico, first check to see if a tourist visa will be required to enter either country. Information on Canadian tourist visas is available in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or at:
http://isss.binghamton.edu/travel/index.html#three
Be sure to have your passport, visa documents (I-94 card and SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019), and BU student ID card with you, and be certain that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 (or page 1 of your DS-2019) has an authorizing signature that is less than six months old if you will be traveling to Canada. If you will need a Canadian visa to visit Canada, you must also request a letter of certification from the ISSS. Please allow up to three business days for the letter to be prepared.
In 2002, the U.S. Department of State announced new rules for non-immigrants who use the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit [22 CFR 41.112(d)] to re-enter the United States after a 30-day or less visit to a "contiguous territory" (Canada, Mexico, and, in the case of F and J non-immigrants, the "adjacent islands other than Cuba") without having to obtain a new visa prior to re-entry.
First, citizens of "state sponsors of terrorism" (as designated in the State Department's annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report) are no longer eligible for the automatic revalidation of visa benefit. The most recent State Department report lists the following countries as state sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba. This means that a person who is a citizen of Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba in the United States in any non-immigrant classification can only enter Canada and return to the United States IF they have an unexpired multiple-entry U.S. visa in their passport for their current status.
However, non-immigrants traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than thirty days and returning to the United States (other than citizens of Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba) who do not intend to apply for a new U.S. visa can still make use of the automatic revalidation benefit, and re-enter on their expired U.S. visas, as long as they have a valid, unexpired passport, their I-94 card, and a valid and signed SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT I-94 DEPARTURE CARDS: F-1 and J-1 students with expired U.S. visas who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days, who will not be applying for a new U.S. visa while there, AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their SEVIS I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States.
Travel Abroad
Many current students traveled abroad during intersession and entered the United States in time for their studies at Binghamton without untimely delays. But students who travel abroad should expect closer scrutiny of their documents upon their return to the United States. Students with valid U.S. visas should not anticipate too many difficulties in their travels. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months into the future, and that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 (or page one of your SEVIS DS-2019) has an authorizing travel signature no older than May 2007. We do not recommend any overseas travel during either Spring break for a student needing a new F-1 or J-1 visa.
Returning to the United States From a Trip Abroad
Procedures at the U.S. ports of entry now accommodate SEVIS requirements as well as US-VISIT requirements. Immigration and customs at ports of entry are managed by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. You will see CBP officers at all U.S. ports of entry. You may also be required to go through a pre-inspection procedure at certain airports abroad.
SEVIS
CBP officials are required to record your arrival data into SEVIS at the time you enter, and return your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to you, after they have stamped it. However, not all CBP officials will have access to SEVIS at their booths in the "primary lanes." Depending upon the port of entry, some students may be directed to a secondary inspection area or "student lanes" so that their data can be entered into SEVIS. CBP is advising that processing at land, sea, and air ports may take more time, so travel and connecting flight plans should take this into account.
SPECIAL REGISTRATION
Individuals subject to "special registration" will be directed to a separate area following their initial immigration inspection where they will be fingerprinted, photographed and questioned under oath. This may add significant delays to the amount of time spent at the airport. If traveling on a connecting flight, allow plenty of time.
US-VISIT
U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology, or US-VISIT, is the entry/exit record keeping system for all non-immigrants traveling to and from the United States at airports, sea ports and land ports, including the border between the United States and Canada. In addition to the usual inspection procedure conducted by CBP officers, each non-immigrant will have their fingerprints taken by placing their fingers on an inkless fingerprint scanner. A digital photograph will also be taken.
If you are planning to travel overseas after the Spring 2008 semester ends, be sure to watch for the upcoming special "Spring Travel Extra" edition of ISSS-BU News for full travel details on this topic. The Travel Extra will be published in mid-April.
2/2008